Archbold Women’s Center Earns Center of Excellence

Center becomes only facility in region to achieve American College of Radiology mark

It’s been a whirlwind month of events during Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Archbold Memorial Hospital.

And no sooner have the free community cancer screenings, special mammogram promotions and survivor fashion show-fundraiser ended than more good news for women across the region arrived:

The Archbold Women’s Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology, making it the only facility in the region to earn the designation.

The Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation is only awarded to facilities that have earned accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy and breast ultrasound, including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive the Center of Excellence designation,” said Joe Barron, Assistant Vice President of Archbold’s Heart, Vascular and Imaging Services. “We have an outstanding team of physicians, nurses and technologists, and the fact that the American College of Radiology recognizes that is great affirmation of the quality of care provided at the Archbold Women’s Center.”

To earn the designation, the Women’s Center passed rigorous breast imaging accreditation programs and modules. The process was voluntary, and according to Archbold radiologist John Carico, MD, very important for what it represents to patients.

“It shows patients that Archbold’s commitment to fighting breast disease has been recognized as the gold standard,” he said. “It also speaks to the high quality of our mammogram studies, as well as the expertise of our on-site radiologists, all of whom are board certified.”

“Women want peace of mind,” said Allison Donaldson, Director of Radiology at Archbold. “Being recognized as the best in what you do should give women some comfort in the Women’s Center team’s level of knowledge, competence and accuracy.”

The Center is equipped with two digital mammography units, stereotactic and ultrasound biopsy equipment, two dedicated breast ultrasound units, ultrasound units for imaging OB and pelvic studies and a bone-density scanner for osteoporosis testing. An education center offers an extensive collection of publications for patients to stay current with new developments in women's health.

The American College of Radiology is a national professional organization serving more than 36,000 diagnostic and interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.